Sanitary, non-drip pouring attachment for cans and jars



Oct. 22', 1957 J. l. THOM$ON 2,810,498

SANITARY, NON-DRIP POURING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS AND JARS IFK Filed Feb. 9, 1956 INVENTORQ United States Patent:

'CANS' AND" JAR'S' John Thomson, Lansing;- Ill. Application l ebruary lhlysd, SerialNo. 564,508

4 GISiiII'S-L- (GI;

of the above 'type which may be attached lay-anyone in a matter of seconds without the use of look, after the container has heenope'ned.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide sanitary, nondrip pouring attachments forcans and jars 'i'eh, when opened, have an unusually large, orifice or spout,-:so that any desired portion can he poured out almost as quickly -'as if no attachment hadbeen applied, or in a fraction or the time-required for pouring through punched holes or the small openings of other previously lm'own *nomdri pitchers. This effects an economy of ftime and eliminates themessiness that accom anies the' filling and refilling 'of smaller vessels from the larger, original containers in which the material is purchased.

For other objects and for a hotter understanding-of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in operative use on a can and with the attachment in the open position for pouring;

Fig. 2 is .a top plan "view thereof and showing in phantom the position of the swing arms when it is desired to remove the attachment from a can or to place the same thereon;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view shown partly in section and partly in elevation of a modified form of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the rotary cap forming a part of the invention and shown alone; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the rotary cap of Fig. 5.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 through 3 and 5 and 6, 10 represents a tin can of the one quart fourteen ounce type or half gallon honey or syrup pail with the rim flange cut out, the can 10 including the usual rim 11.

In the practice of my invention a pouring attachment indicated generally at 12 is provided and includes a ring shaped plate 13 adapted to rest on the open upper end of the can, the plate 13 intermediate its inner and outer peripheries being integrally formed with the depending hollow cylindrical skirt 14 which is telescopically re- 2 ceivel within fthe insideef the upper end of the (Fig.3). The plate 13 at its inner peripheryisintegraliy formed with the hollow cylindrical, upwardly extending portion 15 'having a' semi-circular topwall 16, the remaining portion-ofthe-top w'allbeing-open, as at '17.

shown in- Fig; 2, the plate '13 is integrally formed with oppositly'disposed cars 18- withinwhich' are niounh ed the cylindrical bearing members 19-, "the ends o'f'the bearingmembers '19extending upwardly 'anddownwardly ofthe plate 1 3'. The cars 1 8 are oncorresponding sides integrally termed as right, angles thereto With the upstandi g stops Zllfora purpose which will hereinafter become clear.

V'e'rti'c'a'l' rods "21 are rotatabl monntedin the hearing members '19, extending upwardly and downwardly thereof and heing'integrally formed at their upper ends at right angles thereto with the horizontal extended 'portions The inner ends of the horizontal rod portions 22 are integral-1y-=fhnrteel the vertically enlarged finger tees 2'3- fer a pur ose which will hereinafter become clear; It will be noted that'the outward rotational move ment ofthe rods22 from the full line position of Fig. 2 to the-'dotteclline 'po'siti'on'will "be limited by abutment with the stops 20, as will be obvious. The lower ends of the vertical rods 21 "are integrally formed at right angles thereto with the inwardly extending horizontal portions '24.

Aholl ow'cylindrical sleeve 25 openat the bottom is rotatahly mounted on the outside of the cylindrical pore tion 15 and includes a semi-circular top wall 26 and a semi-circular opening '27 adapted to be aligned with the opening '37 of the-*cylindrical'por'tion 15' (Fig. 3). "To retain the sleeve 25 in osition on the cylindrical portion 15, the sleeve 2'5 is provided with a semi-circular slot "28 which surrounds the 'circularcutout '27 and within which rides a pin *z'9 'fixedly carried by the cylindrical portion 13, the pin '29 being positioned along the diameter portion of the top wall 16 atone end thereof. To facilitate the rotational movement of the sleeve -2'5, an outwardly and upwardly extending finger'tab 30 is providedat the side'thereoirernete from the cutout "27. "To permit the easy and ready removal of the sleeve 25 from the cylindrical portion 15,whi-le at the same time retaining the same thereon for normal operation, the sleeve "25 at the bottom thereof below the center of the slot 28 is integrally formed with the bridge or enlargement 31 providing clearance for the pin 29 when aligned vertically "therewith, as will be obvious.

A pair of upwardly extending stops 32 are provided on the opposite sides of the ring shaped plate '13 and are adapted to abut the rods 22 when the latter are moved into tangential engagement with the sleeve 25 (Fig. 2).

The plate 13 at the side thereof remote from the cutout 17 is integrally formed with the outwardly extending horizontal supporting portion 33 which is in turn integrally formed at its outer end with the depending handle 34 of arcuate cross section for rigidity.

In operation, the rods 22 are first rotated to the outer position of Fig. 2 (shown in phantom) by means of the finger tabs 23 whereupon the attachment 12 is placed on the open upper end of the can 10 with the depending skirt 14 being telescopically received therewithin (Fig. 3), the plate 13 supporting the same on the upper edge of the can and the rim 11. The rods 22 are then rotated inwardly to the full line position of Fig. 2 into abutment with the stops 32 by means of the finger tabs 23, which rotates the lower horizontal portions 24 against the can and into the indentations 35 whereby to firmly retain the attachment on the can. The sleeve 25 is then rotated to the closed position by means of the finger tab 30 to bring the pin 29 into abutment with the other end of the slot 28 and to provide a sanitaryclosure for the contents of the can when not in use. When it is desired to dispense the contents, the sleeve is rotated to bring the pin 29.into the other end of ,the slot by means of the finger tab..30 to providea semi-circular opening or pouring P 2' '1 ,1

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, there is shown a modified form ofthe present inventiqn indicatedgenerally at 12a and designedparticularly to be used on wide mouthed jars'with a'screw top or common Mason jars. Thus, the wide mouthed jar 36 having the usual threaded neck 37 may be employed. The jar includes the usual annular ridge 40 provided at the bottom of the threaded neck37. In this form of the invention, the attachment 12 is devoid of the circular plat 1$ and dependingskirt 14 of the previous form and is integrally formed instead at its lower end with the threaded portion 38 adapted to be screwed onto the threaded neck 37 in the same mannor as the threaded cover which it replaces. It will be noted that the lower edge of the threaded portion 38 rests on the ridge 40. In this case the threaded portion 38 at the thickened portion 41 is integrally formed with an outwardly extending horizontal supporting member 39. The supporting portion 39 includes the flattened hollow portion 42 which slidably receives therewithin the flat horizontal portion .43 integrally formed at the upper end of the'handle portion 34a of arcuate cross section,

' the horizontal portion 43 having the elongated slot 44.

An externally threaded stud 45 is fixedly carried at the outer end of the supporting portion 39 and rides within the slot 44 whereby to permit the adjustrnent of the handle 34a from the jar, as shown in phantom in Fig. 4. A wing nut 46 retains the handle in the adjusted position, as will be obvious. The jars 36 may thus be used in pint size as pitchers for syrup and honey. Liquids can be poured from large Mason jars or cans to refill such nondrip pitchers, or to dispense any desired portion of the contents to a measuring cup, glass or the like. Large containers of this type also make an excellent lemonade pitcher. The handle 34a facilitates tilting and pouring. The wing nut 46 permits adjustment of the handle to allow for dilferences in the maximum diameter of the jar and to give finger clearance; The parts are assembled without bolts or the like and can be easily separated for cleaning.

One size of the cap or sleeve 25 will serve-for attachments for both cans and jars with mouths of the usual s1ze.-- I

-In other respects the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 through 3,

and 6, and like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the several views.

While various changes may be made-in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall bewithiu the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In means for securing a pouring attachment releasably to the open upper end of a tin can or the like, said releasable means comprising a ring shaped plate integrally formed at the lower edge of said hollow cylindrical cap member and extending outwardly therefrom and adapted to rest on the open upper end of a tin can or the like, a hollow cylindrical depending skirt integrally formed on the under surface of said plate and adapted to be telescopically received within the open upper end of a tin can or the like, said plate on opposite sides being integrally formed with outwardly extending ears having cylindrical bearing members positionedtherewithin, the vertical rod rotatably mounted within each of said bearing members and extending upwardly and downwardly thereof, a horizontal inwardly extending rod integrally formedat the upper end of each of saidvertical rods at right angles thereto and terminating at its free end in an enlarged finger tab, second inwardly extending horizontal rods integrally formed at the lower ends of said vertical rods and adapted to embed themselves in the can upon inward movement of said first horizontal rods, and stop means adjacent each of said ears adapted to limit the displacement of said first horizontal rods inwardly to a position tangential to said sleeve and outwardly therefrom, said handle means comprising an outwardly extending horizontal supporting arm integrally formed at the side of said plate remote from said cap member cutoufisaid supporting member being integrally formed with the depending handle of arcuate cross section.

. 2 In releasable means for securing a pouring attachment on the upper open end of a tin can or the like, an annular plate adapted to rest on the open can top, a cylindrical sleeve depending from the inner periphery of saidplate to enter said open can top, and arms pivotally mounted in said plate to move into and out of can top gripping positions.

I 3. The means of claim 2, wherein said plate is pro vided with outwardlyextending diametrically spaced ears carrying bearing sleeves and the arms being provided with upwardly'extending seal portions journalled in said bearing sleeves.

4. The means of claim 3, wherein said rod portions extend above said plate and are provided with upper arms fixedly carried by the rod portions and radiating therefrom, whereby to rotate the rod portions and swing the-first mentionedjarms, said upper arms being provided with finger gripping means at their free ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ludwig Nov. 7, 1944 

